Needs and challenges of farmers in rangeland areas in Slovenia
The national workshop of the HORIZON DIGI-Rangeland project in Slovenia was held at the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia (CAFS) in Ljubljana, both in person and online. It involved 18 stakeholders, including farmers, advisors and representatives of agrarian communities. Discussions focused on three themes: management of extensive livestock systems, land use and sharing, and development and promotion of products and services.
Key challenges in farm management included predation by large carnivores, an ageing farming population, and climate change impacts such as drought and extreme rainfall. Short grazing seasons and limited land for feed production were also highlighted. Participants emphasized the need for effective predator control tools, financial support for young farmers, and improved management practices, including better water supply and livestock monitoring in remote areas. Regarding land use, unclear ownership, inconsistent legislation and grazing restrictions were identified as major barriers. Participants stressed the need for legislative improvements, stronger cooperation between institutions, and a shift towards decision-making that better reflects farmers’ needs. Greater societal recognition of farming was also highlighted. In product development, challenges included weak cooperation, unfair pricing and negative public perception. Opportunities were seen in collective branding, digital marketplaces and links with tourism. Barriers to digitalisation included poor connectivity, high costs, lack of skills and ageing farmers. Issues with drones and GPS collars were also noted. Participants emphasized the need for better support, improved dialogue and continued collaboration to ensure sustainable rangeland management.
Additional information
The DIGI-Rangeland project brings together partners from 10 countries, coordinating national networks (France, Romania, Greece, Spain, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Iceland, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland), and also disseminating its knowledge within the Balkan network with its Croatian partner. Consult our publications and documents on the project website: https://digirangeland.eu
DIGItal innovation and data technology network for RANGELAND livestock farming systems
Ongoing | 2025-2029
- Main funding source
- Horizon Europe (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
- Geographical location
- France, Romania, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Iceland, Norway, United kingdom, Switzerland